Lord Baden-Powell: who was he and where is his statue?

Here we explain who Lord Baden-Powell was and why there is a statue of him in Poole. 

Who is Robert Baden-Powell?

Robert Baden-Powell is the founder of the scouting movement.

He was born on February 22, 1857 and died on January 8, 1941.

Lord Baden-Powell and his wife Olave had strong links with Poole – they were married at St Peter’s Church in Parkstone in 1912.

He was made a Freeman of the Borough of Poole in 1929.

Lady Olave unveiled a memorial stone to her husband in 1967 on Poole’s Evening Hill.

A granite statue also stands outside Baden-Powell House in London’s Kensington.

Baden-Powell is buried near Mount Kenya, where his gravestone bears a circle with a dot, which is the Boy Scout trail sign for: “I have gone home.”

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Why is there a statue of him in Poole?

Lord Baden Powell set up the first ever Scout camp on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour in 1907 with just 20 boys.

Lady Olave unveiled a stone on Brownsea Island to commemorate the 1908 camp.

Brownsea Island continues to attract Scouts from across the world. 

The Lord Baden-Powell statue required £25,000 of fundraising by Brian Woolgar, of Poole District Scout Council, and a £10,000 grant secured from developers by Poole council.

It was made by sculptor David Annand, took 10 months to make and weighs 200kg.

• Baden-Powell statue 'won't be removed today', says councillor

Where is the statue?

The sculpture of Baden-Powell is on Poole Quay and looks across Poole Harbour towards Brownsea.

When was the statue unveiled?

The statue was first unveiled on August 13, 2008.

Every year since a laurel wreath has been placed by successive Poole mayors to mark Founder's Day which takes place on February 22, which is the anniversary of Baden-Powell’s birthday.

Why might it be removed?

Campaigners said his founding of the scouting movement "can be no excuse for his documented homophobia, racism and enthusiastic support of Hitler"

The statue of Robert Baden-Powell is set to be placed in “safe storage” following concerns about his actions while in the military and "Nazi sympathies".

Concerns were also raised that its presence could provoke "public disorder or anti-social behaviour".